WHY IT'S DIFFERENT?
A Moroccan adventure that takes you from the mayhem of Marrakech, through the High Atlas Mountains to the sand dunes of the Sahara Desert.
BOOK TODAY $420.78 DEPOSIT PER PERSON
Based on two people sharing, not including flights learn more
Sahara Sunset
There's nothing quite like riding a camel out into the desert and sitting on a big sand dune while slowly watching the sunset over the horizon. So peaceful and tranquil, definitely a once in a lifetime experience.
Marrakesh
A visit to Marrakesh certainly awakens the senses. Whether it's bartering for a deal in the chaos of the souks, relaxing in the oasis that is your Riad or having dinner in a fancy restaurant in Gueliz, there is something for everyone.
Aït Benhaddou
A UNESCO World Heritage site, your are likely to recognise this incredible kasbah as it's featured in many productions, the most famous being Gladiator and more recently Game of Thrones.
Morocco Cuisine
Rich with flavour, the food has a unique, delicious taste so don't be shy in trying their specialities from tajines with couscous to a pastillas and of course the obligatory mint tea. You can even take a cooking class!
"All our accommodation was excellent and unusual. Food provided was great and locally sourced. Our trip to the Sahara via the Atlas Mountains was epic and our memories of our sunset camel ride, dinner in the Berber campsite and our magical tent exceeded all our expectations."
Mrs Jan Wing - Guest
YOUR EXPERIENCE
Starting and ending in magical Marrakech, make the journey through the wild Atlas Mountains, stopping to marvel at the clusters of authentic riads and Berber villages peppered along the road. Enjoy a visit to one of Morocco’s finest kasbahs, the spectacular desert castle of Ait Benhaddou, and take in the wild beauty of the stunning Todra Gorge. Once in the Sahara Desert, take the trek on the back of a camel to the crown of the towering sand dunes just before the sun sets – an utterly captivating sight. Upon your return, a traditional dinner is enjoyed under a blanket of stars. End the trip in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains taking in the mountain scenery that unravels before your eyes. Relax by the pool with a good book and a refreshing mint tea or enjoy a well-deserved hammam.
YOUR EXPERTS
OANA
The Bright Spark - Meet Oana
ABDUL
The Humble One - Meet Abdul
NEED TO KNOW
| DESTINATION | Morroco |
| DURATION | 7 nights |
| GROUP SIZE | 8 people |
| ASSISTANCE | Hands on |
| AIRPORT(S) | Marrakech |
| FLIGHTS | For more information on flights from the UK please refer to the Trip Details section. |
| VISA | UK, EU & US not required |
| VACCINATIONS | No |
Arrival in Marrakech with an airport transfer to your boutique riad accommodation in the medina.
INCLUDED
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
Day to your leisure in Marrakech. Soak up the magic and mayhem of Marrakech. Dive straight into the souks and try your hand at some haggling, explore the city's famous sights, gardens and palaces, or relax in your riad. Whatever you do, make sure you head over to the atmospheric Djeema el-Fnaa square as dusk settles.
INCLUDED
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
Morning transfer through the High Atlas Mountains on a journey to the Oasis of Skoura, stopping for lunch at a gorgeous mountainside Kasbah in the Atlas and visiting the spectacular Ait Benhaddou.
INCLUDED
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
Journey through the Dades Valley to Erg Chebbi in the Sahara Desert with a visit to the Todra Gorge. Take a 4×4 jeep ride through the desert to the Bivouac Berber Camp to enjoy the sunset camel ride and a traditional dinner under the Sahara stars.
INCLUDED
Breakfast in the desert, then transfer back through the Draa Valley stopping for lunch at N’Kob, later travelling to the delightful I Rocha Kasbah in the Atlas Mountains.
INCLUDED
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
Journey back through the Atlas Mountains to the foothills of the Atlas Mountains just outside of Marrakesh. Here, enjoy the breathtaking mountain scenery unravelling before your eyes, or relax with a mint tea and a good book by the pool.
INCLUDED
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
Day at your leisure to relax and unwind.
INCLUDED
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
A selection of our accommodation, which is subject to availability, however, alternatives are always of a similar price, grade and location.
Marrakesh
Morocco
With all our stunning, boutique Riads located in or close to the Medina, you will be well placed to explore Jemaa el-Fnaa square and the souks.
Typical Accommodation: Dar One, Riad Al Massarah or similar
Atlas Foothills
Morocco
The foothills of the Atlas Mountains are the ideal location to relax and unwind after your adventure journeying into the Sahara desert.
Typical Accommodation: Kasbah Bab Ourika or Casa Abracadabra
Tisseldey
Morocco
Set in the low Atlas Mountains is the village of Tisseldeï, sat on the edge of a river creates a lush green oasis below the baron cliffs looming above.
Typical Accommodation: Irocha or similar
Skoura
Morocco
The oasis town of Skoura offers a peaceful setting at the end of a long day, creating the perfect place to kick back and relax.
Typical Accommodation: Sawadi, Jardin de Skoura or similar
Sahara Desert
Morocco
You'll take your sunset camel ride through the dunes of the Sahara to your desert camp, followed by a night by the fire under the stars. Truly magical!
Typical Accommodation: Beldi Luxury Camp or similar
WHERE YOU'RE GOING
The queen of diversity, Morocco represents a diverse and heady mix of cultures and scenery that are guaranteed to awaken your senses. With stunning mountains, buzzing cities and endless deserts, the country has so much to offer and seems to change with every visit. A fascinating melting pot of cultures and religion, you’ll be immersed in cultural influences from around the world, architectural marvels and tons of historical intrigue. Magical, mysterious and utterly captivating. This is the ultimate trip if you’re looking for a once-in-a-lifetime experience and memories to treasure for years ahead.
FAST FACTS
| CAPITAL | Rabat |
| POPULATION | 36.91 million |
| CURRENCY | Moroccan dirham |
| TIME DIFFERENCE | UTC |
"Bartering is a way of life in Morocco, for the best deals keep light-hearted and jovial, it's a game after all. A good deal is a price you are willing to pay!"
Abdul - Untravelled Paths
Taking photos
Always ask when obviously snapping pictures of the locals, especially in the rural areas, as it's the polite thing to do. Pairing with a complement often helps or take from distance and ultilise your zoom.
Touts and Hustlers
In general Morocco is very safe so relax and smile when dealing with touts and hustlers. Politely, but firmly decline, don’t engage and act as if you know where you are going.
Cover up
Whilst locals are used to tourists, it is respectful to cover up your knees and shoulders, so make sure you have a scarf, which will also help against the sun and sand while in the desert.
Pack warm clothes
The desert conjures up images of searing heat and baking hot sun, but once the sun sets then temperatures can really plummet to below zero so be sure to pack some warm clothes.
As a tour operator we are not able to offer inclusive flights as part of our experiences however we are more than happy to help you find the most appropriate incoming and outgoing flights for you. All the listed airports fly directly in and out of Marrakech with multiple different airlines to choose from. We highly recommend using Skyscanner to find the cheapest flights.
INSURANCE
In order to be fully covered on your trip should anything happen, we suggest getting an insurance before you travel. We recommend True Traveller, designed especially for adventure travel, who will be able to tailor an insurance package based on your needs. You can find out more here.
SOLO TRAVELLERS
Our prices are based on people sharing, for solo travellers who would prefer a private room the price per person will include a solo occupancy fee.
EXTRA NIGHTS
If you wish we can also organise extra nights at either end of your trip for you.
Book your trip in a few easy steps.
The currency used in Morocco is the Moroccan Dirham, often abbreviated as Dhs or MAD.
The Moroccan Dirham is a closed currency, so by law you are not allowed to import or export Moroccan Dirhams. Technically you’re not even allowed to take more than 1000 Dirhams into or out of the country (approx. £65.00) so we recommend waiting until you touch down in Morocco before you think about getting hold of the local currency. There is an ATM and a couple of bureau de change offices at Marrakesh airport so you’ll probably be better off withdrawing the money there. Beware of inflated exchange rates; these can be particularly poor at airports. Banks will change foreign currency for you and rates are consistent across the board.
Most major credit and debit cards (Visa and Mastercard) are accepted throughout Morocco’s main towns and cities however cash is preferable particularly in the less built up and more remote areas of the country. While you’ll have no problem using your card to pay for drinks or dinner in places like Marrakech, many of the smaller towns along the way to the Sahara Desert only accept cash so do make sure you’ve got enough on you as well as small change for smaller purchases. It is always advisable to inform your bank that you’re travelling abroad in order to avoid the frustration of having your card blocked.
As a general rule, you’ll be able to have a good lunch for around £8 a head and will pay anything between £15 and £20 for a nice evening meal. Naturally, the type of establishment you choose to eat in and what you order will dictate the cost of your meals. Be aware that as a Muslim country, the cost of alcohol is typically higher than it would be elsewhere and ordering imported drinks can cause your bill to sky-rocket so drinking local wines, beers or spirits is advisable. We reckon around £100 for lunch,
drinks and snacks for two people is plenty for your time in the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara Desert when breakfast and dinner are included. For your time in Marrakech you’ll need to add the costs of lunch, dinner and any shopping you’d like to do whilst you’re there. Please note that these are rough estimates and you can always choose to spend more or less depending on your budget and preferences.
Tipping in Morocco is commonplace and practically anything can warrant a small tip. With that in mind, it can be a good idea to keep a supply of small coins with you just in case. Tip up to 10% in restaurants, a couple of dirham in cafés, and 2 to 3 dirham for the attendant when you need to use the loo.
Autumn: Just coming out of summer, the temperatures in autumn are warmer and a lot more bearable compared to the height of summer particularly in Marrakech and in the Sahara Desert during the daytime.
Winter: With lovely mild weather throughout the winter months, the temperatures in Marrakech from the end of November to February are comfortable and there’s plenty of snow topping the Atlas Mountains making the scenery even more photogenic than usual. That said, evenings in the Sahara Desert often drop drastically so layers are crucial.
Spring: Spring is a lovely time to be in Morocco with mild temperatures. The snow on the mountains provides a stunning and hugely contrasting backdrop to your journey through to the Sahara Desert. As is the case with the weather in October, April & May bring with it much higher temperatures in the run-up to summer. The weather is milder in April than it is in May.
You can always contact the UTP team on +44 207 101 4061 or info@untravelledpaths.com. Before you travel, you will also receive a personalised itinerary with the contact details of the local manager in Romania should there be any problems. Your guide will be on hand throughout the trip as well, so you're in safe hands.
Our digital booklet, which you will receive before travel, contains all the information you need about optional activities. Simply drop us an email letting us know what you'd like to do during your trip, and we'll take care of the rest. Please note that the payment for the optional activities will be taken locally in cash.
It is! You are highly unlikely to experience any problems during your stay here. That said, being harassed by 'faux guides' and petty theft is fairly common. Applying basic common-sense rules should stand you in good stead when it comes to theft and petty crime so avoid walking alone at night around unlit areas, keep an eye on your valuables and don’t flaunt expensive jewellery.
If you find yourself lost in a medina, follow the flow of people along the main paths and you’re sure to be spat out at an exit where you can find your bearings. Either that, or use a compass – street names will prove useless! If you want to ask for directions, the safest bet is to ask the shop-keepers. Be aware of 'faux guides'.
Unofficial or false guides. You will no doubt encounter unofficial guides and street hustlers at some point while you’re in Morocco. If you want to get them off your tail be firm but polite and walk with purpose as if you know exactly where you’re headed. A simple ‘no thank you, my friend’ will normally suffice. We would not recommend taking these ‘guides’ up on their offer under any circumstances.
As the weather is likely to be hot and sunny you’ll want to pack cool and comfortable clothes, ideally not exposing too much flesh. For your time in the desert we recommend loose or baggy trousers that won’t be impractical for camel riding and a scarf comes in very useful not only for protection against the sun but also from the sand when the wind picks up. A scarf is also practical for women who can use it as a cover up over bare shoulders in local villages. Be aware that despite the warm daytime temperatures it can get chilly in the evenings so packing layers is an excellent option. A warm fleece or hooded jumper can also help to protect you from the cold during the night. With swimming pools at most of your accommodations you should also pack some swimwear.
It sure is! You will be travelling with our representative and a group, so you're in good hands. While wandering alone around Marrakech, there are a few common-sense precautions that female visitors should bear in mind when they’re in the country: don’t wander the streets alone after dark; if in doubt take a taxi! It’s unlikely that you’ll have any trouble but you’re likely to feel pretty uncomfortable and wary so it is best to avoid the situation. If you are approached, don’t react with aggression, keep it polite and carry on walking. It’s a good idea to save the number of your accommodation on your phone just in case you get lost, particularly in Marrakech.
